NAPLES - During a visit to Afragola Friday, Minister of Education Marco Bussetti’s response to the question of whether funding should be increased to narrow the gap between Italy’s schooling in the North and in the South, was met with considerable backlash.

 Bussetti, member of the League, declared that it is not more funds, but more effort that schools in the south require. “More funds in the South? No, it takes the commitment of the South, you have to work hard,” he said.

SANREMO - After the victory of Mahmood, an Italian singer of Egyptian descent, at the prestigious annual Sanremo song contest, singer Martina Dell'Ombra commented "The Sanremo final is a clear political conspiracy," in a post on Facebook.

ROME - Throughout the course of history, religion has often been used to mark divisions and incite violent actions. This is especially true in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA); a region that has witnessed, for years, the spread of sectarianism and the rise of jihadi violence. However, the Arab Gulf is now moving forward to overcome religious extremism.

ROME - Pope Francis will attend the 42nd session of the annual Governing Council gathering of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The two-day event, taking place on Feb. 14-15, 2019, will include interactive sessions investigating investment opportunities, technical innovations and development challenges facing smallholder agriculture.